Seven-time world champion, Lewis Hamilton has called on the sport to restrict car development in a bid to prevent domination by one team.

The Briton's comments come as Mercedes, which won eight consecutive constructors' titles between 2014 and 2021, seeks to close the gap to reigning champions Red Bull who have won all eight of this year's races thus far.

"If everyone had a time (to start on the development of their car for the next season), and no-one has a head start, then it's a real race," the Briton told reporters as the Austrian Grand Prix weekend got underway. "Maybe that would help everyone be closer the following year.

"In my seventeen years of being here, even before I got here, you would see periods of dominance and it continues to happen," he continued. "I was very fortunate to have one of those periods and Max is having one now.

"With the way it's going, it will continue to happen over and over again, and I don't think we need that in the sport. When you are so far ahead, a hundred points ahead, you don't really need to do a lot of development on your car so you can start earlier on your next car. And with the budget cap that means spending that year's money on next year's car.

"Something has got to change because when we were winning championships, we could start earlier than everyone else.

"It would be cool to see in the next period if we don't have huge bands of time when one team is ahead because we want to see better racing."

Hamilton's comments come as no surprise. Last year was the first year in which he failed to win a single race since entering the sport, and only now is his team showing genuine signs of a revival.

To date, team boss Toto Wolff has played down talk of the sport curbing Red Bull's domination, but that hasn't stopped his drivers who haven't missed an opportunity to raise the issue.

While F1 CEO, Stefano Domenicali has dismissed the notion of "manipulating" the rules, the sport's owners will be eyeing the situation with growing concern.

If Red Bull continues to dominate those fans won over during lockdown by Drive to Survive will come to realise what the rest of us have known for some time, that F1 isn't the thrill-a-minute, rollercoaster ride suggested by the adverts but often very processional, with just one team calling the shots.

As Hamilton admits, when Mercedes was dominating, it had the luxury of being able to get to work on its next car earlier than its rivals, thereby ensuring that the domination continued unchecked.

It is not up to the sport to handicap Red Bull's success but for Mercedes and the rest to stop whinging and get on with trying to beat them, like Aston Martin is currently trying to do.

Sadly, with an eye the cash register, the FIA, acting on the orders of F1, will capitulate and the sport will take another significant step in the wrong direction.

F1 is a meritocracy, since it began there have been periods of domination, it is nothing new. It is up to the likes of Mercedes to topple Red Bull by raising its game as opposed to having the rules changed to suit.

Told of Hamilton's comments, speaking at the official FIA press conference, Max Verstappen said: "Life is unfair as well. It's not only in Formula 1. Like I said, a lot of things are unfair, so we just have to deal with it."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Paulinho, 08/07/2023 8:20

"I think with the introduction of a 24 location season for 2024, the sport will probably implode. Whos is going to want to watch more of the same, unless the theory is that it gives other teams more chances to win ? "

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2. Posted by elsiebc, 02/07/2023 22:21

"I agree here with Lewis for once. Everyone should have a date upon which they can start designing and building their car. Also, they should have a set number of man-hours that they can use. When they reach the limit it's pens down and hand in the work, otherwise if a team like Mercedes has twice as many employees as Williams then they have twice as much time to work, so that needs to be addressed. And let's not forget that one Adrian Newey is worth more than a couple other designers put together so the workers' abilities need to be taken into account and assigned a value, too. Oh, and not all drivers are equal either so maybe we can fix that by having the better drivers cover more distance. Then and only then it will be fair. "

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3. Posted by Jet Jockey, 01/07/2023 3:09

"I'll just leave this here... Horner, the biggest whinner in F1 said this in 2015 after only two years of Mercedes domination and after 4 years of back to back world Championships by Red Bull... [URL=https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/b79/mlab601/Red_Bull_BS.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds][IMG]https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/b79/mlab601/Red_Bull_BS.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds[/IMG][/URL]"

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4. Posted by jcr, 30/06/2023 19:00

"Open to correction,
But I think he is wrong in his comments about Red Bull Domination meaning they no longer need to develope the current car, so the leftover cost cap money can be used to develope next years car.
I dont think any carry over of leftover finances would be within the cost cap.

No need to comment on his BS about others domination."

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5. Posted by Rock Doc, 30/06/2023 12:58

"Well said @Endre

Remember the Mercedes 'DAS' system for 2020. Deemed illegal but they were allowed to run it for the season. I never understood how they were allowed to run it. "

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6. Posted by Endre, 30/06/2023 12:23

"@Hobgoblin The idiotic token system introduced along with the hybrids was the reason why Mercedes domination was extended for as long as it was. There were many eras of a team dominating, but none was so outrageous as the Mercedes one, because the way their competitors were shackled. Nobody in the history of this sport enjoyed more protection and privilege than Merc & Hamilton."

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7. Posted by Hobgoblin, 30/06/2023 12:02

"Yes his comments are ironic - to which he admits.

What I also find ironic is the people who are disparaging his remarks now are the people who where shouting the loudest when Mercedes and Lewis were dominating. Including some here.

Glass houses and stones anyone?"

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8. Posted by TokyoAussie, 30/06/2023 9:03

"Pity he didn't make this comment when he was dominating in his then teams."

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9. Posted by Laz, 30/06/2023 2:47

" "while I win all is fair in love and war , when I lose it is not fair -change the rules now !!" that is why he will never be the GOAT in my eyes."

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10. Posted by kenji, 30/06/2023 0:55

"Is there no end to Hamilton's whining ? "

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11. Posted by Chester, 29/06/2023 18:18

"The man's true character is showing. Wow, just wow. How about a participation trophy? Would that help, LH?"

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12. Posted by Apexing, 29/06/2023 18:02

"@Fambank Yeah, that's a bit rich! I don't recall him complaining when he and Mercedes were dominating the sport!! "

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13. Posted by Defiant, 29/06/2023 18:01

"He's not exactly wrong. He makes a pertinent point but come on, timing is everything. Lewis, I'm pleased you didn't forget the irony in your statement as you enjoyed utter domination for years, so how about you spend more time at the factory telling the designers what to do instead of flapping your electronic lips on social media, that might help?.

We want you, (not just you, anyone at all will do) up there racing Max and Sergio but I don't want it to be done artificially either. (One of the only things I agree with Domenicali on)

The testing and budget caps are certainly a very large cause of this, so maybe get behind McLaren and Williams who are calling for fixes in some of these areas.
"

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14. Posted by Fambank, 29/06/2023 17:56

"Lewis Hamilton, and anyone at Mercedes, are all with due respect, the last ones who
comment on this subject.

"

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15. Posted by Superbird70, 29/06/2023 17:54

"Lewis sorry, but computer says no!"

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Hamilton calls for F1 to act on domination

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